Mary's Corner
Greetings, Friends!
By the time you read this, I will be in North Carolina, celebrating the Fourth of July with two of my sons and some of their friends. It will be the first anniversary of the tragic waterfall accident in which my son Bryan was injured and his girlfriend was killed. I expect that it will be a bittersweet weekend, spending time in one of the most beautiful parts of our country. It is in this mountain area full of natural wonder that my sons have worked for years, at a camp for boys where the spirit of friendship and family has captured their hearts and the hearts of so many others. And yet, in the midst of this beauty and love, there has been great tragedy.
In some ways, this reminds me of what our parish community has experienced in this last week with the death of 14 year old Maria Tremmel. In the midst of our beautiful loving faith community, in the midst of the life of Maria's loving home and family, we experienced tragedy. If there is anything I can say having had the benefit of one year passing since Bryan's accident, it is that it is possible for a loving family to grow closer in love still, in spite of great grief and sadness. My hope for both the Tremmel family and our parish community is that Maria's life, which already offered such joy and spontaneity to enliven those around her, will serve now to deepen our love for one another.
I will return on July 10, taking some time after leaving North Carolina to visit some Kentucky Dominican friends. I will also be making my annual trip to Mammoth Cave, a retreat of sorts. Mammoth Cave is the largest cave system in this country. It is a whole beautiful part of creation that you would never know about unless you went deep into the earth to find it. There are more than 300 miles of underground cave system there, and it is a place full of history. Each year when I go to Mammoth Cave, this ritual of going underground reminds me of the need to go deeper into my spiritual life, to find God present within me, discerning God's love and direction.
I hope that these summer weeks offer everyone some opportunity for rest and recreation - even some re-creation of our lives. I will be remembering you all in my prayers while I am away. Once again, I will be returning on July 10. I will still be able to be reached on the parish emergency cell phone but Fr. Jim Murphy from Immaculate Conception will be available to cover for me for any emergencies that cannot be handled by telephone.
After my return, I will share with you some of what took place on parish Leadership Day last weekend. We had a very good turn out and I am very excited about our future together. This is a wonderful parish. God be with you until we meet again.
Mary Michele (Regina) Foley
Back to School Fair
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, is once again coordinating the
13th Annual Back to School Fair on August 10th. Several thousand
children and their families will receive a wide variety of health and
human services. Some of the services offered include free school
physicals provided by the Loyola Mobile Medical Van, dental screenings
and immunizations. This totally free event is open to any DuPage family
who lives near or below the poverty level. Catholic Charities will also
give each school-age child a $10 gift certificate designated exclusively
for the purchase of school supplies.
Please consider donating to the Back to School Fair. Your donation will
allow Catholic Charities to purchase these school supply gift
certificates for distribution at the Fair. Donations may be mailed to
Catholic Charities, Back to School Fair, 26 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard,
IL 60148.
Out of Poverty
Catholic Charities, 26 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, has been providing
Out of Poverty training to the poor and needy of our community in an
effort to prevent homelessness and improve people's lives. The training
is for 10 weeks, twice a week and is free. We will hold another class
when we have a sufficient number of interested individuals. Participants
would be responsible for their own transportation and childcare. Please
call Jane Echevarria (630-495-8008) with any questions and to be
included on a list for the next class.
Feed the Poor
Drop Off Used Printer Cartridges
Mary Queen of Heaven Men's Group continues to collect empty inkjet and
toner cartridges to help the poor in Latin America and the Caribbean.
With the non-profit organization, Food for the Poor, empty cartridges are
recycled, and cash received is used to buy food.
Please look for the special Food for the Poor box in the vestibule of
church. For more information call Russ DiOrio at 630-617-8811.
Power Wheelchairs Available
Wheels For Seniors makes available power (electric) wheelchairs to
senior citizens and permanently disabled of any age people, usually at no
out of-pocket expense if they qualify. No deposit is required.
The electric wheelchairs are provided to those who cannot walk and
cannot self-propel a manual wheelchair in their home and who meet the
additional qualifications of the program. We can deliver any durable
medical equipment in any city all over the United States.
Call 1-800-340-8525 or visit our website www.statemedical.com for more
information on the details of this program.
2004 Diocesan Annual Appeal
Diocese of Joliet
Seeds of Hope
This is just a reminder to send your Appeal coupon with payment to the
Diocesan Appeal Office by the 15th of each month. Thank you.
All pledge cards should be returned to the parish for forwarding to the
diocese. By doing this, all pledges will be recorded and everyone will
receive proper acknowledgement.
Catechists Needed
The summer of 2004 is now in full swing. However, before we know it
those back to school ads will be splashed all over the newspapers.
Before that happens, please consider being a catechist for 2004/2005 RE
year.
Come September, we will be in need of catechists at the 1st grade levels
in the afternoon session and at the 6th grade level in the evening.
Please consider giving a few hours of ;your time each Wednesday. If you
enjoy working with younger children or middle school children or know
someone who might be, let us know. Remember you don't have to be a
theologian, just someone who loves children, loves your faith and wants
to share it. We will help you with the rest. The pay is not terrific,
in fact it's non existent, but the perks are incredible.
If you have not done the following, please:
1. Register for the 2004/2005 RE year.
2. Tell your friends and neighbors to do the same.
3. Volunteer to be a catechist.
4. If you are a catechist already, recruit one of your friends or
neighbors to join you.
If you have any questions or need more information, please call Mary Ann
Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
Church of the Holy Ghost
Council of Catholic Women
Stage Right Productions and Church of the Holy Ghost Council of Catholic
Women present Joe DiPietro's comic drama Over the River and Through the
Woods. This play centers on a tight knit Italian-American family - a
funny and heartbreaking story that will make you laugh and cry.
Place: Wood Dale Junior High School
Center for Performing Arts
655 N. Wood Dale Road, Wood Dale
Dates: August 12 through August 22
Thursday, Friday & Saturday-8:00 p.m.
Sunday-2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15.00
For more information, call 630-455-1599.
Theology on Tap!
The Northeast DuPage Young Adult Ministry and Immaculate Conception
Parish in Elmhurst will be hosting a special program for adults in their
20's and 30's. It's called THEOLOGY ON TAP, a four-week speaker and
discussion series directed to the needs and experiences of adults,
college age and older, married or single. Please join other adults for a
great experience.
July 11th
Connect with Others: The Secret for Happiness
Frank Giangrego
July 18th
From Willow Creek to Catholic
Steve Smith
July 25th
The Songs We Sing: Music in Our Prayer
Annie Waugh and Kevin O'Donnell
August 1st
Joy in the Journey: Finding God in Our Lives
Nancy McKnight
Each session starts with socializing and gathering at 6:15 p.m. and the
speaker at 6:30 p.m. The evenings will be held at the Immaculate
Conception Parish Administration Center, 134 Arthur Street in Elmhurst.
Please call Kristin Kramer at 630-530-3482 for more information.
50th Wedding Anniversary Mass
The Diocese of Joliet will hold its twenty-sixth Wedding Anniversary
Mass on Sunday, August 29, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St.
Raymond in Joliet. If you were married in 1954 and are celebrating your
50th anniversary this year, please contact the rectory so that we may
submit your name to the Diocese for a formal invitation. A registration
form for all other married couples will be printed in the bulletin at a
later date.
Prayer Requests
To pray for our sick is an important privilege of our parish family. We
hope that you will pray for these persons every day, alone or as a
family. Thank you.
Pam Bondfide Heather Brennan
John Brennan Kathleen Bryers
John Brani Kathy Calzante
Eugene Clarke Jerry Driscoll
Baby Marissa Herman Pat Holmes
Michelle Humann Maureen James
Tom Janicke Kenneth Kabat
Irene Kmieciak Tom Kwiatkowski
Dick Martin Bobbie Nannini
Michaelene Parrill Dan Scanlon
Therese Shaheen Mary Alice Sapien
If you or someone in your family would like to be included in our
prayers, please call the rectory at 279-5700. Also, please let us know
when a name should be removed.
Local Service & Solidarity Opportunity
Catholic Construction Corps
The CCC will be assisting needy homeowners in the repair and rebuilding
of homes in Pembroke Township, one of the most impoverished areas of the
United States within the boundaries of the Joliet Diocese. Skilled and
unskilled volunteers are needed.
Scheduled workdays are:
July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2, November 6
Some weekday opportunities may also be available.
Please contact Art Sheridan or Margie Parks at 815-834-4028. The
Catholic Construction Corp is sponsored by the Peace and Social Justice
Ministry. For more information visit www.paxjoliet.org.
L.O.S.S.
(Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide)
Support Group
Through the collaboration of Catholic Charities (the Archdiocese of
Chicago and the Diocese of Joliet), support groups are in place for
anyone who has lost a relative or friend to suicide. A trained
facilitator and a mental health professional assist these groups.
The groups meet from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on either the first Tuesday, the
third Wednesday or the fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting
dates are as follows:
July 6 - Catholic Charities, Kankakee
July 21 - St. Paul the Apostle Activity Center, Joliet
July 27 - St. Daniel the Prophet's Parish Center, Wheaton
For further information, please call the L.O.S.S. Program Center at
312-655-7283.
ANNOUNCING A PARISH CONTEST!
Attention all artists young and old! We are looking for a parish logo
that can be used for business cards and other printed materials,
something that can come to be recognized as symbolizing Mary Queen of
Heaven Parish. You are invited to submit line drawings (that would be
useful even in small dimension) for consideration as our parish logo. We
have some business card examples that can be viewed at the rectory.
Examples of drawings could be: a representation of the Mary statue that
stands in Mary's Gathering Space, or the outline of our church building.
Other creative ideas are also welcome. There will be two categories for
this contest - an adult category (the winner of which will probably be
used for parish stationery) and a child category (this winning drawing
will be incorporated into our Religious Education materials). Contest
deadline is August 1. Winning entries will be awarded a prize and we
will publish as many entries as we can in the parish bulletin. So, get
those pens and pencils and creative juices going! Please send your
contest entries to the parish office at the rectory.
Summer Parish Prayer Service
7:00 p.m. in the Church
Thursday, July 15
Wednesday, July 21
Monday, July 26
Please join the Pastoral Life Coordinator
for prayer, reflection, and fellowship
together this summer.
Each evening prayer service will be held in Church from 7-7:30 p.m.
This will be followed by fellowship and conversation in Barrett Hall,
with the evening concluding around 8:15 p.m.
Part Time Van Driver Wanted
Driscoll High School is looking for part time van drivers for mornings,
from 5:45-7:45 or for afternoons from 2:40-4:30, Monday thru Friday, from
mid-August thru early June. We would provide a 15 passenger van. The
job pays $3,300 for one way trips: and $6,800 for both am and pm runs.
Please contact: Mr. David Salois at Driscoll Catholic High School at
630-543-6310, ext. 30.
Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Teenagers
Catholic Charities presents a Seven-Part Parenting Program beginning
every Tuesday, July 6-August 17, 2004, from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Participants will learn skills that can be applied to the many
challenges faced by teenagers and their parents such as peer pressure,
education and career plans, sexuality, use of the car, drinking and drug
use. Each session provides practical, usable skills and insights on how
to encourage:
Independence with responsibility
Mutual respect and cooperation
Self-confidence and self-esteem
Democratic relationships
The class location is at Catholic Charities, 26 West St. Charles Road,
Lombard, IL. The cost to participants is $50.00 which includes a
parenting manual and materials, or $70.00 per couple. Enrollment is
limited and pre-registration is required. Jim Gilligan, MSW is the
course instructor.
Please call Catholic Charities at 630-495-9850 to register.
Catholic Charities
Emergency Services
Every year in December, the DuPage County Catholic Charities office
receives donations from the DuPage parishes to purchase food certificates
and gift certificates from the local grocery stores. These certificates
are given to needy families who come to our office for assistance and to
supplement the food they receive from local food pantries and walk-in
ministries. Each month our Emergency Services group received hundreds of
requests for varying assistance. Due to stronger than usual demand, our
supply of food gift certificates is running extremely low.
If you are able to help our Catholic Charities Emergency Services group
with a cash donation or grocery gift certificate, we thank you profusely.
Please make any checks payable to Catholic Charities and in the memo
section of your check please write North Area food/gift certificate
purchase. The mailing address is: Catholic Charities, c/o Annie Laven,
26 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, IL 60148. If you have any questions,
please contact Anne Laven at 630-495-8008.
The Cenacle Retreat House
29 W 012 Batavia Rd., Warrenville
Presents:
Sr. Rita Anne Houlihan, r.c., will present an over-night Interactive
Retreat, What if Ignatius Hadn't Broken His Leg?...an Exploration in
Ignatian Spirituality on July 30-31. Ignatius was one of the greatest
teachers of the inner life for ordinary folks. This overnight program
will include conferences, contemplative practices, faith-sharing and
personal prayer. The program begins on Friday evening with check-in at
6:30-7:30 p.m.and ends Saturday with an optional Sunday Eucharist at 4:30
p.m. The cost is $85 for a single room only.
For further information or to register, please call 630-393-1231.
Sacred Heart Parish
37th Annual German Fest
Sacred Heart Parish is having their 37th Annual German Fest on July
22-25, 2004 at 114 S. Elizabeth in Lombard. There will be Rides,
Entertainment, Casino Gambling, Bingo, Free Kids Bingo, Food Games and
fun for All. A grand Prize drawing for $10,000.00 along with many other
prizes will be raffled. All ride wrist bands are available Thursday 6
p.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m.-5.p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Check out
our web site www.sacredheartlombard.com for more details.
Benedictine University Hosts
10th Annual Golf Outing
To Support Scholarship Fund
Monday, July 12, 2004
at Cress Creek Country Club in Naperville
Proceeds from the event support the President's 21st Century Fund, which
provides academic scholarships for Benedictine students.
The day begins with registration and breakfast at 6:30 a.m., followed by
a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. Those golfers who prefer a 1:00 p.m. start
can enjoy lunch following registration at 11:00 a.m. Cocktails begin at
6 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $200 per person for morning
session (which includes breakfast, refreshments on the course, lunch and
dinner) and $225 per person for the afternoon session (which includes
lunch, refreshments on the course and dinner). After golf BBQ dinner
only is $60.
For more information or reservations, call 630-820-6080.